How Magic Mushrooms could hold the key to curing depression

Are hallucinations the secret to happiness? — New research shows psilocybin, the active ingredient in Magic Mushrooms, to have huge potential for treating depression.

Depression is a first world problem. Of course, depression exists worldwide, but it’s a huge and growing problem in wealthy, developed countries. As we get richer, we get more and more unhappy, studies show.

Yet despite up to a third of Europeans and 350 million people globally now suffering from depression and the considerable burden this places on health services, mainstream medicine is remarkably ineffective. Just 50% of patients respond to antidepressants, while around 20% do not respond to any treatment.

Now British researchers believe they have discovered the most effective treatment yet: Magic Mushrooms. The Beckley/Imperial Research Programme study, led by Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, gave 12 patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression two separate doses of psilocybin seven days apart, together with psychological support.

A remarkable 67% of patients were depression free one week after treatment, with 42% still in remission three months later, according to findings published in the Lancet Psychiatry. Patients had suffered an average of over 18 years of depression and had found no respite in any other treatment.

Amanda Fielding, founder of the Beckley Foundation, which is pioneering the new wave of psychedelics research, says. “It is very exciting that our latest psilocybin study paves the way for a new treatment for depression. For the first time in many years, people who were at the end of the road with currently available treatments reported decreased anxiety, increased optimism and an ability to enjoy things. This is an unparalleled success and could revolutionise the treatment of depression.”

It is still unclear whether the effects were caused by purely chemical changes within the brain, or whether the psychedelic experience itself, described by participants as ‘mystical’ or ‘spiritual’, helped shift ingrained thought patterns.

This small scale study is just the first step towards developing effective treatment for depression. The initial positive findings would have to be replicated in larger clinical trials before a suitable treatment is available to patients.

Drug controls place significant barriers in the way of further research. In this study, Imperial College London’s Dr. David Nutt, who oversaw the research, estimated the cost of each dosage rose from £30 to £1,500 due to legal hurdles.

Combined with the Beckley/Imperial Research Programme’s groundbreaking study into LSD’s effects on the brain last month, researchers are confident that a growing weight of evidence into potential benefits will overcome resistance in the medical establishment. Taken together, the initial findings support how changes in consciousness induced by psychedelics could become invaluable tools for psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Find out more about The Beckley/Imperial Research Programme’s psilocybin study.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Red shop frontage with "Open Out" branding and appointment-only signage.
Activism

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims

Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Cyclists racing past Palestinian flag, yellow barriers, and spectators.
Sport

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification

Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Crowded festival site with tents, stalls and an illuminated red double-decker bus. Groups of people, including children, milling about on the muddy ground.
© Alan Tash Lodge
Music

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture

Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Weathered wooden building with a tall spire, person on horseback in foreground.
Culture

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South

Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.

Written by: Miss Rosen

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Three orange book covers with the title "Foreign Fruit" against a dark background.
Culture

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”

Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.

Written by: Katie Goh

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.